Boiler-flue cleaner



I. Hl GUODFELLOW'.

BOILER FLUE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1921-.

1,400,152, I Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

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JOHN H. GOODFELLOW, OF BUFFALO, NEVI YORK.

BOILER-FLUE CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.A

Patented Dec. 13, 1921.

Application filed February 5, 1921. Serial No. 442,682.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. GooDFnLLow', a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boiler-Flue Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to boiler flue cleaners, and more particularly to that type of cleaners in which an operating rod is used to project it through the tube.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a flue scraper -in which .a single or double set of scrapers may be employed,

each set of scra Ders beinO' detachabl 'f mount.

ed independently of the other set and of one another, so that the parts may be easily and quickly renewed.

in which the cutter blades are positively limited in their outward movement, so much so, that their position outside of the tube .will

indicate sufficient to admit of their wearing.

out without any further adjustment, as uncommon in types of Scrapers heretofore Y made.

Another object is -to provide improved means for yieldingly mounting the scraper blades so as to permit extreme flexibility thereof.

Another object is .to provide improved guide heads, .wherein Vthe annular interna-l walls have no graduation tapers, but simply catch shoulders to engage the stops, and fui'- ther to providethe guide-head with inclined riders and the outer ends of the cutter arms with lateral inclined members to safeguard their cutting edges. v n

Moreover, I have sought to provide a flue scraper in which the blades of the separate sets are alternately arranged, and to provide a saddle which shall be very rigid and ofV large diameter, so that the thrust on the cutting blades is vas-near in line with the cutting point as possible, land the solidity of the saddle increased by making it in one piece. Y' Y Y The above objects have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my double ended flue scraper, showing the same applied to a boiler flue.

ter of said hinge ring.

pling 4i, either of said couplinOs being adapted to receive an operating handle, not shown.

Pinned or otherwise'securely mounted on the central shaft 2 is a saddle 5 which consists preferably of a single piece of suitable metal having` a hub 6 on its opposite sides. Another obgect is to provide a flue scraper This saddle is provided in its periphery with an annular groove 7 of a suitable depth to receivean annular hinge ring S and` a plurality of radial recesses or slots 9 which eX- tend below the inner edge of the hinge bar. The annular groove 7 is preferably formed by a suitable round nose tool having its width to conform to the diameter of the hinge ring 8 and is of suiiicient depth to be substantially iush with the outside diame- As shown in Fig. 5, this hinge ring is preferably formed of two segments of equal dimensions which are forced into the annular groove from opposite sides, their abutting ends being welded together when the saddle is made of cast iron, but when of malleable iron the edges of the saddle may be swaged inward to grip the hinge ring.

Removably mounted on the hinge ring 8 are two sets of scraper blades a, a, one set extending forwardly from said ring and the other set extending rearwardly therefrom. These scraper blades may be of-any suitable construction, but as shown in the drawings, each consists of a centrally disposed arm l() provided at one end thereof with a hook l1 adapted to enter one of the slots 9 of the saddle and engage the underside of said hinge ring. The free end of each arm is provided with a cutter blade 12 which is curved to conform to the interior of the boiler tube, said bladehaving a cutting edge l? at its front end. The rear end of the blade is of slightly smaller diameter than its front end and is provided with an inturned reinforcing fiange or rib 14. The upper surfaces of the blades are preferably corrugated, as shown at 15, to produce a series of longitudinal cutting edges 17. As shown in Fig. 1 the corrugations of the rear set of scraper blades a do not extend clear to the cutting edges thereof, while those of the front set of blades a extend to the cutting.

edges.V By providing such corrugations, the scale or incrustation is easily broken up and the frictional Contact within the tube is reduced. Extending forwardly from the front end of each blade 12 of the rear set of Scrapers a is a rearwardly inclined guard member or nose 18 of substantially arrowhead form, the central portion 19 thereof being integral with said blade. he side portions 20 of the guard member diverge rearwardly from the front end of said centra'l portion and their rear ends terminate -short of the opposing cutting edge of the Y blade.

bladerso asv to form a space for permitting the insertion of a tool for sharpening said These guards serve to protect the ec ges of the blades against contact with the ends of the boiler tubes, and are of'such curvature as to blend into or be flush with the upper surface of said blades.V Extending forwardly from the front end of each blade ,of thev front set of Scrapers a is an inclined nose 18a which acts in the same capacity as the nose on each scraper of theY other set. v Y 1 V'llie'front ends of the arms 10 .of the Scrapers are guided during their expanding andcontractiiig movements in radial. slots 21 arranged in a guide head 22 slidably or adjustably mounted on the shaft 10 and of substantially bell-shaped form. A coil spring 423 is provided for each blade which constantly tends to move the same outward,

the short arm 24k of each spring being re-V movably secured in an opening 25 in the saddle 5, and the long arm 26 thereof being arranged in a recess or groove 27 provided in the underside of the respective blade arm.

The lower side of the coiled portion of each spring is seated in a recess 28 in the hub G'of said saddle, while its upper side is confined between two ears or lugs29 depending from the underside of each scraper arm. One of these ears is provided with a rearwardly facing shoulder 30 which normally holds the spring against ylong gitudinal displacement relatively to the blade arm.

To limit the `outward movement to which the scraper blades may be expanded by their springs, each arm 10 is provided adjacent its front end and on its under side with outwardly bent lips 31 which are adapted. to' engage the adjacent inner edges of the slotsf 21 in the guide head 22, as shown in Figs. 2 Vand 6. By providing the guide head with radial slots and the arms of the scraper each set of Yblades is of such diameter as Y will coact with the flanges 14: of saidblades to prevent any soot or scale removed by the blades from passing into the spaceY between said head and the saddle 5.

In removing any one of thescraper blades for repair or renewal, it is onlynecessary to loosen the set screw 34 of the guide head and shift the latter away from the saddle' 5 until the lips 31 of such scraper arm 10 are released from their stop.` shoulders formed by the slots 21, after which the same is unhoolred from y'the hinge bar 8 in an obvious manner. kThe arms may be applied 'byreversal of the steps just mentioned;

Upon the removal of the scraper arm the spring 23 may be readily removed by dis engaging it from its opening in thesaddle.

soV

A pin 35 fastened in the shaft 2 serves vas a gage stop for properly locating the rear guide Yhead 22 in its operative positionand preventing movement thereof beyond'a predetermined distance from thev saddle v5. The` front guide head is properly set by engaging the opposingedge of the coupling 4. lf

desired, the set screws 34 may be dispensed with and the heads be Vloosely arranged on the shaft 2, so as to be freely movable toward p the saddle. Y i

While affording the advantages ofY a double-ended scraper, this improved scraper isV readily adjustable Vto actas an Ordinar single type by simply disconnecting one set of blades from the saddle. Y

As shown in Figs. l and 2, when used as a double-ended scraper, the arrangement is such that the blades of one set are alternately disposed relatively to the blades ofthe other set. Y Y. y

This improved scraper isY very efficient in operation and by providing detachable scraper blades of theV character shown, renewal of the complete scraper is unnecessary, thereby rendering it economical.

I claim'V as my invention; Y

1. A boiler flue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle mounted' thereon, a hinge ring on said saddle, vscraper blades havingl arms detachably connected at one end to said ring to expand and contract relatively to said shaft, means for guiding the free ends of said blades', "andmeansonfsaid l..

shaft, a saddle mounted thereon, scraper blades detachably connected aty one end to said saddle to expand and contract relatively to said shaft, a guide head arranged on saidshaft forwardly of said saddle and having outwardly opening slots for guiding the free ends of said blades, and means on said blades cooperating with the adjacent inner edges of the slots in said guide head for limiting the expanding movements of said blades.

3. A boiler fiue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle mounted thereon, scraper blades detachably connected at one end to said saddle to expand and contract` relatively to said shaft, a bell-shaped guide head adjustably mounted on said shaft forwardly of said saddle and having radial slots for guiding the free ends of said blades, and stop lips arranged on said blades adapted for engagement with the adjacent lower edges of said slots for limiting the expanding movements of said blades.

4. A boiler flue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle carried by the shaft Aand provided in its periphery with radial slots, a hinge ring mounted on said saddle and spanning said slots, scraper blades having hooks detachably connected to said hinge ring, and springs interposed between said saddle and said blades. K

5. A boiler flue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle carried by the shaft and provided in its periphery with radial slots, a hinge ring mounted on said saddle and spanning said slots, scraper blades having hooks detachably connected to said hinge ring, coil springs interposed between said saddle and said blades, said blades being provided with a pair of depending ears for housing the coils of said springs, one arm of each of said springs being removably secured to said saddle and the other arm of said spring engaging the underside of the respective scraper blade and a shoulder on one of each pair of ears for preventing displacement of its spring from said saddle G. A Yboiler flue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle carried by the shaft and provided with a plurality of radial slots, a hinge ring carried by the saddle and spanning the slots, scraper blades pivoted on said ring, a guide head longitudinally adjustable on the shaft for guiding the free ends of said blades and provided with inwardly curved arms positioned between said scraper blades and extending toward the saddle.

7. A boiler flue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle carried by the shaft and having an annular hinge ring, a plurality of scrapers each provided with an arm pivotally mounted on said ring, a guide head longitudinally adjusted on the shaft and provided with peripheral slots for guiding the free ends of said arms, the arms of each of the Scrapers being provided with lateral stops arranged to engage the lower edges of the slots in said head for limiting the outward travel of the Scrapers.

8. A boiler flue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle carried by the shaft and provided with an annular groove in its periphery and a plurality of radial slotscommunicating therewith, a hinge ring seated in said groove and spanning the slots in said saddle, a lurality of Scrapers detachably connecte to said ring, and a coil spring for each of the scrapers having a forward and rearward member, the latter engaging with a hole in the saddle and the former engaging a groove in the scraper.

9. A boiler Hue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle carried by the shaft and provided in its periphery with a plurality of radial slots, a hinge ring mounted on said saddle and spanning the slots to form recesses below the ring, and a plurality of scraper blades pivoted on the bar and independently removablel therefrom.

l0. A boiler flue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle carried by the shaft, a plurality of Scrapers each having an arm pivotally mounted on the saddle to ex and and contract freely relatively to the s aft and a guide head longitudinally slidable upon the shaft and provided with radial guideways with which the arms of the Scrapers are adapted to engage.

1l. A boiler flue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle carried by the shaft, a guide head longitudinally slidable on a shaft in front of the saddle, a guide head longitudinally slidable upon the shaft in rear of the saddle, each'of the guide heads being provided with a' plurality of radial guideways, and two sets of Scrapers, each set being pivotally mounted on the saddle to expand and contract freely relatively to said shaft and provided with' arms projecting in opposite directions from the saddle, the arms engaging the guideways in the guide heads.

l2. A boiler Hue scraper comprising a shaft, a one piece saddle mounted on the shaft and provided with an external annular groove, a plurality of radial slots, a plurality of Scrapers, each provided with an arm, a hinge ring disposed in the annular groove of the saddle, the arms of the Scrapers being provided with hooks disposed within the slots and detachably connected with the hinge ring, and a plurality of coil springs removably fastened to vthe saddle, the free ends of said springs engaging with the scraper arms.

iov

Y said scrapers, said guide head being of suoli 13. yA boiler flue scraper comprising a shaft, a saddle carried by the shaft and provided in its periphery with a plurality of slots, a hinge ring mounted on said saddle uand spanning the slots to form recesses below tliering and two sets of scrapers extend# ing in opposite directions from said saddle, the Scrapers of each set being alternately and detachably mounted on the saddle.

14:. A scraper for boiler tube cleaners comprising anarm having a forwardly inclined nose at its vfront end, and cutter blades extending from opposite sides of said arm in rear of said nose, said blades having'transverse cutting edges and provided in their upper sides with transverse corrugations forming longitudinal cutting edges.V

15. A boiler flue scrapercomprising a saddie carried by the vshaft an annular hinge ring carried by the saddle, a plurality of crapers detachably mounted Ven said hinge ring, each scraper being provided at one end with laterally curved blades having cutting edges at their front ends and inturne'd flanges at their rear ends, and a guide head vmounted on the shaft in rearof the'flanges of thescrapers for guiding the free ends'of diameter asv toprevent foreign matter lremoved by the Scrapers from passing beyond the same.

16. A scraperV for boiler tube cleaners comprising an arm having cutter blades ex' tending fromopposite sides thereof and provided at their front ends with transverse cutting edges, and a guard member extending of the frontend of said central portion.

vhead beyond a ldiverging rearwardly from opposite sides of the front end ofsaid central portion, the rear ends of said side portions terminating short of the opposing cutting edges of said 'Y blades.

18. A yboiler flue scraperl comprising a shaft, scraper blades having arms pivotally connected tosaid saddle to expand and contract relatively to said shaft, a guide head arranged in front of said saddle and having loutwardly opening, slots for guiding the arms of said blades, means on* said armsV cooperating with the adjacent inner edges ofV the slots in said guide `head for limiting the expanding movements of said blades, said guide headv being longitudinally slidable on said shaft in a direction toward said saddle, and means for preventing movement of said predetermined distancev from said saddle. 1

19. A boiler flue scraper comprising Va shaft, a saddle having a hub carried yby the shaft, said hub being providedin its face CGY with recesses, scraper blades having arms pivotally connected Yto said saddle, and coil springs'tending to expand said blades rela'- tively' to said shaft, the coils of'rsaid. springs being seated edgewiseinthe recesses of the hub of said saddle andthe armsfof said springsV Vengaging the scraper arms and saddle, respectively.

'JOHN ii. dolonrniiLow.v Y 

